I usually don't resolve to do anything to "change", especially under such an impressionable time as the turning of a new year. I am not the kind to put such pressure on myself. Starting diets, new to-do lists, swearing off following teams who continue to rip my heart out, etc, etc... it can only lead to the sort of failure knee-jerk reactions can bring. I guess I need more than just a years' time to prepare.
We are what we are, you know, and what we are is imperfect. We get better by screwing up, or at least that's what I'm holding out for. So there's really no need to fess-it-all-up-at-the-end-of-the-year by proclaiming that we will not do this "whatever thing it is ever again"! Are we understood? No? Excellent! Let's move on.
Instead of compiling a year's-end "best of" list like most everybody else (and hey, I don't know who and what you're reading) but I'd like to put a nutshell spin on it. I'm going to present a year's end list for the year 2013! A combination of what I think will happen, what I want to happen and what I know will happen. I suppose you can call it predictions, but it may take on the feel of a list of resolutions... depending on whether or not you feel there is improvement. I'll make it easy to follow by going in chronological order instead of imposing upon you what I feel is the most important. Got that? No? Excellent! Let's move on.
#1 "The Rookie" - Wasatch High School freshman placekicker, Skyler Southam, selected to participate in the U.S. Army/Eastbay All-American freshman game against the Canadien All-Stars in the Alamodome, kicks the 32-yard field goal to put his team up for good with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Southam would also convert all five of his extra point attempts in the 38-29 victory. This will not be my last great prediction for this kid. The Wasp kicking game remains in good hands... er, uh feet for the next three years.
#2 "The Rudy" - Notre Dame winning the National Championship in college football. Not because I was necessarily rooting for the Irish, but because it was a great underdog story and stood for everything that is right in college football. The old golden domers never cheated recruitment or lowered academic standards. They stayed Notre Dame even when the rest of college football pushed the envelope - and some too far - and refused to turn to dust like predicted by many. They found the right coach to inspire them and they played good old fashioned hearty college football. Besides, Touchdown Jesus was past due.
#3 "The Save" - The NHL and it's player's union coming to terms just in time for a spectacular 32-game abbreviated regular season and 8 week all-in playoff bracket format with the first round losers going to a consolation bracket and having to fight their way back to the winner's bracket. The entire shortened-season put a sense of urgency on every drop of the puck and gave the underdog Nashville Predators the advantage they needed over the rest of the even playing field of mostly rusty, out-of-shape players to bring the first ever Stanley Cup to the home of country music.
#4 "The Out Of Nowhere" - Andrew Luck was the prototypical quarterback and was deservedly selected number one in the NFL draft last year. Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy and was selected second, also deservedly. They both turned out to have remarkable rookie years. But it was the 75th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson who stole the NFL Rookie Of The Year Award. The "undersized" playmaking leader, ranked high in qb rating and led his team farther into the playoffs than either Luck or Griffin, with the Seahawks and Wilson actually defeating Griffin's 'Skins in the first round. I don't really care about this award... but have you watched this kid play?
#5 "The I Told You So, But I'm Too Nice To Ever Say I Told You So" - Peyton Manning, brushed aside by the Indianapolis Colts and many NFL pundits, leading the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl and beating the San Francisco 49'ers with a fourth quarter game winning drive culminating with his fourth touchdown pass en route to the game's MVP award. Who wasn't for this happening?
#6 "The Most Popular Win Ever" - NASCAR's most popular driver, and son of the sports' former most popular driver, wins his biggest race of his career at the 55th running of "The Great American Race." I have always been a fan of Junior, not because of his father, but in spite of him. The kid, who is no kid anymore, has done nothing but handle himself with dignity under the hottest of spotlights. No... he ain't his daddy, but little Dale can drive. Not only was it great to see him win this race again nine years after he won it the first time, it was unreal actually watching my television vibrate off the stand from the roar of the crowd.
#7 "The Worth The Risk" - Junior left-handed relief pitcher, Jesse Bristow of Nicholls State University recording his first Division 1 victory at LSU. Bristow, primarily a specialist, was put on the mound to get the third out in the eighth inning against a Tiger left-handed batter. Bristow forced the ground out to the first baseman and was the pitcher on record as the Colonels rallied to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Nicholls went to their closer, who finished off the game with a 1-2-3 inning giving Bristow the win. Bristow's accomplishment makes this list because no other schools in D1 gave the kid much of a chance. Oh... and he's my boy.
#8 "The Welcome Back" - The Indiana Hoosiers run through March Madness and win the NCAA Men's Basketball championship in a return to glory years. After falling short in somewhat of a "cinderella story" campaign last year, Tom Crean's Hoosiers remained focused and determined and rode the shoulder's of standout Cody Zellar in bringing the trophy back to Bloomington. Where it belongs.
#9 "The Shot In The Arm" - Tiger Woods winning his elusive 15th major with his victory at Augusta, his first since 2008. Since injuries and controversy have slowed this once mega sports superstar, the entire landscape of professional golf has become... well, just golf. Much like it was before he arrived. Love or hate Tiger, this win at the Masters was not only a win for Woods, but for all who play professional golf. It was also a big win for the huge gallery following every fist pump in the fourth round, as it served as witness to the rebirth of not only Woods, arguably the greatest golfer ever, but for the entire sport.
#10 "The Pip-Pip Cheerio" - British tennis star Andy Murray, avenges his heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2012 with a decisive victory in the rematch. Brought to tears, in an emotional trophy presentation, from the adulation of his home countrymen after his loss in '12, Murray continues to ride the momentum of his U.S. Open win of last year and also from his Olympic Gold Medal performance against Federer, also in his homeland. The Wimbledon crown may very well be Murray's most prized as it not only makes him a worldwide favorite, it certainly will get him invited for tea with the Queen.
#11 "The I Love L.A." - Don Mattingly winning a World Series as the skipper of the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a long - well, could've, and should've been longer - decorated career as the Yankee's first baseman during their lean years of the late 80's and early 90's, and another decade working his way up the coaching ranks, "Donny Baseball" managed the high profile, highly paid Dodgers through a pressure packed season all the way to the promised land. A native of my hometown, Evansville, Indiana, Mattingly has never made me prouder than this fine day. He epitomizes everything that is good in the sport of baseball and his win not only secures his place as a baseball legend, but brings the title back to Dodgertown. Does Magic Johnson know how to throw a victory party?
#12 "The Tebow" - Tim Tebow, who I thought had become the most disrespected professional athlete without due reason in 2012, shows why it's good to take the high road. After a draft day trade, where he thanked the New York Jets, for a couple of late round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tebow played inspired football in front of his hometown fans bringing the Jags back to respectability. He started at quarterback and did not put up all-pro numbers, but his combination of game management and big play ability kept his team in nearly every game, winning eight of them. A far cry from 2012's two-win season. Tebow's jersey was again tops in sales and he continued his crusade as a good-guy ambassador for NFL-following youth everywhere. I am doing "The Tebow" as I type - regardless of the difficulty. That is how much the guy inspires me.
Well, there you have it. Little time will pass before some of these will either come to fruition or make me look like just another blowhard. Most we'll have to wait for the year to unfold. But remember, I did say that some of these were things I wanted to happen. That's why I left the whole prediction/resolution/best-of thing a little vague. I took care of some of my personal faves, gave props where due and looked out for my own. I think I've got a pretty nice list here. I'm sure some of you will disagree and that is why I more than welcome your comments. Better yet! Your lists.
Thanks for following In A Nutshell. I hope you enjoyed the start here late in 2012 and look forward to the growth and honesty and absurdity that 2013 will surely entail. A Happy and prosperous New Year to all!
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